Sacred Credentials: The World of Chaplaincy Certifications
- Chaplain Sam Williams, MDiv., BCC
- Feb 18, 2024
- 1 min read
American Correctional Chaplains Association (ACCA) (Est. 1885)
Website:(https://correctionalchaplains.org/pages/index.php/certification/certification-renewal/)
History: The American Correctional Chaplains Association was founded in 1885, serving as a network for sharing information among chaplains, formulating standards for chaplaincy and religious programs, and communicating the religious and spiritual aspects of connections to the larger community.
Process for First Time Applicants: A. You may begin the process near the completion of the required one-year experience as a correctional chaplain. However, you are urged to begin the process at the time that you decide to pursue a career in correctional chaplaincy. A certified correctional chaplain may be assigned to provide guidance as you obtain the needed credentials and experience (mentor). Upon the documentation of the credentials, you will become an “approved applicant for certification.” This can be a valuable document to have in obtaining a correctional chaplaincy position B. Send a letter requesting the Application Form or use the application form on this WEB SITE. Return the Form with all written materials and documentation listed under REQUIREMENTS for the category of certification you are seeking, plus the $10.00 application fee. This fee is non-refundable but will care for your application through setting of the certification interview. Your packet of materials will be in the hands of your mentor who will assist you in providing the required documents and will notify the Chair of Certification when the materials are complete. Those materials will be reviewed by 3 certified members. If they concur, this will be reported to the certification committee, and you will be become an “approved applicant for certification.” C. When all materials are received and in good order, and you have completed 1 year as a professional correctional chaplain, a letter will be sent to you to that effect. D. When all fees are paid, a place and time for the candidate to meet with the interview committee will be set. If at all possible your Presenter will be your Mentor or a Presenter will be appointed for the candidate to assist the candidate during the interview meeting. E. At the end of the interview, the interview committee will indicate the recommendation which will be sent to the Certification Committee for vote. This recommendation will be for approval or non-approval for Certification, or for In Care Status with recommendations for continuing work toward Certification. F. A Certificate will be sent to an approved candidate, and a notification letter to an appropriate authority as requested by the candidate. WHERE DO I SEND THE MATERIALS AND FEES ? All materials, fees, and other correspondence regarding, Certification by the ACCA are to be directed to: Rev. Norma Jean Gillom - 2034 West 38th StreetPine Bluff, AR 71603 | 870-413-3698 Email: gillompastor@aol.com
Reciprocity Unknown | Discover
Applications and Forms
Association of Certified Christian Chaplains (ACCC) (Est. 1941)
Website: https://certifiedchaplains.org/
History: The Association of Certified Christian Chaplains was founded in 1941 under the leadership of Carl McIntire. They adhere to the "National Common Standards" in their board-certifying process.
Reciprocity:
1) ACCC, 2)APC, 3)NACC, 4) NAVAC, 5) NAJC, 6) SCA
Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) (Est. 1946)
History: The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) was founded in 1946 by a group of general hospital chaplains who recognized the need for collegial relationships to strengthen their ministry in healthcare institutions. Rev. Russell L. Dicks, then a chaplain at Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago, played a pivotal role in envisioning this organization. Sixteen chaplains responded to his invitation and began discussing ways to enhance spiritual care services. History - Association of Professional Chaplains (apchaplains.org)
Process for First-Time Applicants
The candidate submits an application through the online portal.
The application is reviewed for completeness.
The candidate is notified within 30 days whether or not the application is complete and that he/she is eligible for an interview.
If the candidate submits an equivalency request with his/her application materials then the application is considered incomplete.
The equivalency review time may take up to 180 days.
Once the equivalency is granted, the candidate is notified and is eligible for an interview.
The candidate is given a list of dates and locations where he or she may be interviewed.
Please see our upcoming application deadlines for interviews. The candidate may choose to be interviewed at the APC annual conference or through one of two virtual interview periods each year.
NOTE: Candidates wishing to schedule certification interviews during the annual conference are advised to submit complete applications as soon as possible, as a limited number of spots are available and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis.
After the interview, the candidate is notified of the committee’s recommendation.
The committee’s recommendation is reviewed by the Commission on Certification and forwarded to the board of directors for ratification.
Upon board ratification, the candidate is granted the recommended status by BCCI and receives official documentation by mail.
The candidate is invited to receive formal recognition of his or her achievement at the next APC annual conference.
Once certified by BCCI, chaplains must fulfill annual and quinquennial maintenance of certification requirements to retain their credential.
Reciprocity
1) CASC/ACSS, 2) NACC, 3) NAJC
Applications and Forms
Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC/ACSS) (Est. 1965)
Website: https://www.spiritualcare.ca/
History: The Canadian Association for Spiritual Care, which is the leading association of spiritual care and psychospiritual therapy in Canada, was founded in 1965. Spiritual care practitioners within CASC/ACSS inspire hope, empower healing, and create space for meaningful change. They attend to an individual’s beliefs, values, behaviors, and experiences related to spirituality, religion, and culture. Psychospiritual therapy, on the other hand, integrates spirituality, psycho-education, mental health, wellness, religion, pathology, and human development principles. Certified Psychospiritual Therapists engage in a collaborative process with individuals, families, communities, and organizations, using interventions informed by spirituality, religion, psychology, and counseling theories
Reciprocity
Call and discover 866-442-2773
Center for Spiritual Care & Pastoral Formation (CSCPF)
Website: https://www.cscpf.org/
Reciprocity
"Accepted Cognate Groups" (no definition (925) 658-5740)
College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP) (Est. 1990)
Website: https://cpsp.life/docs/certification
History: The College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP) was founded in 1990 by Raymond Lawrence and Perry Miller. The organization’s legacy is deeply rooted in the pioneering work of Anton T. Boisen and other key figures. CPSP takes a holistic approach to pastoral care, emphasizing the “Recovery of Soul.”
Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association (HCMA) (Est. 1939)
Website: https://www.hcmachaplains.org/
History: Founded in 1939, HCMA Chaplains are Christian Chaplains professionally trained to provide pastoral/spiritual care to people of all faiths at healthcare institutions worldwide.
International Association of Christian Chaplains (Est. 1930)
History: Founded June 1930 - It was formed in 1930 in Cicero, Illinois as a successor to the American Conference of Undenominational Churches
National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) (Est. 1965)
Website: https://www.nacc.org/membership/apply-for-membership/
History: In 1964, the Bureau of Health and Hospitals of the former National Catholic Welfare Conference (NCWC) considered the formation of a chaplains’ association. In April, 1965, the Administrative Board of the NCWC approved the establishment of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC)
National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplains (Est. 1865)
History: The history of the Department of Veterans Affairs Chaplain Service began on March 3, 1865, when Abraham Lincoln signed legislation establishing the first National Homes for disabled volunteer soldiers. Chaplains were paid a salary of “$1,500 per year and forage for one horse
Process for First Time Applicants - Qualifications for NAVAC BCC
1. Possession of a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from an institution recognized by the Department of Education. 2. Completion of four units of Clinical Pastoral Education from a training organization accredited by the United States Department of Education. 3. Current Ecclesiastical Endorsement from an endorsing body recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 4. Three years of full-time professional ministry experience. A. Professional ministry experience is paid work in any ministry context, i.e., Spiritual Director / Counselor, Chaplain, Pastor, etc… B. Part-time work is calculated to a three-year equivalency, i.e., if you work half-time for six years that is a three-year equivalent. C. Of those three years, 2 years must be in the role of a professional chaplain. D. Full-time GS-9 VA Staff Chaplains who have completed their 1-year probationary period may apply for BCC. E. Chaplains who have completed a full-year VA-sponsored Chaplain Fellowship may apply for BCC. (This is not a 2nd year of a CPE residency.) 5. Yes______ /No______: I have completed at least 5 hours of reading in any of the following: Published research findings, professional chaplain journals, and other Chaplain care articles. 6. Completion of the entire application package. 7. Completion of an interview by a peer review panel to ascertain competency in Pastoral, Personal, and Professional areas. A. You must first become a Professional Chaplain Member before your BCC application will be processed. If you are not a member of NAVAC you will need to fill out the Professional Chaplain Member application and remit with appropriate fees. B.The application for Board Certification is sent to the Chairman of the Board of Directors along with a $100.00 one-time, non-refundable application fee. C. Once your application is complete send it to the Chairman of the Certification Committee. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that your application is complete. Please do not send bits and pieces of the application. Send the entire application as one package. D. A convener is selected, who then selects three Board Certified Chaplains and up to three persons from other disciplines to serve in the interview process, known as the “peer review”. i. Dues paying chaplains from APC, NCVACC, NACC, VA Black Chaplains, VA Jewish Chaplains, and CPE Educators may be invited to assist in panels. ii. Only the NAVAC BCC members of such panels are voting members of the panel. E. If the interview process is positive, the convener will notify the Chair of Certification. The Chair then notifies the Board of Directors who vote on the recommendation. Only the Board of Directors can approve a recommendation for Board Certified Chaplain. F. If the interview is negative, the Interview Panel notifies the Chair of the Certification Committee that certification is not recommended or that they recommend deferral. If a deferral is recommended, they may require the candidate to complete additional work before making a positive recommendation. If their recommendation is to not confer BCC status, the candidate will be given time to appeal that decision. G. You MAY send in your Professional Clinical Member Application at the same time as your BCC application. REQUESTING RECIPROCITY / EQUIVALENT CERTIFICATION WITH NAVAC We do offer reciprocity and equivalent certifications. Fill out only the contact information, educational information, and endorsement information. Send that along with the $100 fee and documentation showing that you are currently BCC with that organization. As always you must also be a Professional Clinical Member of NAVAC. We also offer equivalency for ACPE Educators. If you are a full ACPE Educator fill out the contact information, educational information, and endorsement information. Send that along with proof that you are currently an ACPE Supervisor, a copy of your Ecclesiastical Endorsement, and the $100 application fee. As always you must also be a Professional Clinical Member of NAVAC.
Reciprocity
1) ACCC, 2)APC, 3)NACC, 4) NAVAC, 5) NAJC, 6) SCA
Applications and Forms
National Conference of Veterans Affairs Catholic Chaplains (Est. 1985)
Website: https://www.ncvacc.net/
History: The National Conference of Veterans Affairs Catholic Chaplains (NCVACC) was established in 1985 with the election of its first set of officers. This was preceded in the previous year by a survey of over fifty Catholic chaplains in the VA who expressed a desire to form a professional organization that would address their unique needs.
Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) (Est. 1995)
Website: https://najc.org/?page_id=532
History: Founded in 1995 as the National Association of Jewish Chaplains, the NAJC is the professional organization of Jewish Chaplains worldwide. In 2014 NAJC chose new name, Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains
National Institute of Business and Industrial Chaplains (NIBIC) (Est. 1970)
Website: Membership APPLICATION (nibic.org)
History: The National Institute of Business and Industrial Chaplains (NIBIC) was established in 1970. During a three-day meeting in January of that year, seven individuals convened in San Diego, California, to discuss the need for a national association of industrial chaplains. These dedicated individuals recognized the importance of providing pastoral care for people in the workplace, acknowledging that employees’ personal challenges persist even after the workday ends.
Clinical Pastoral Education International (CPEI) (Est. 2018)
Website: Credentialing Manual - Clinical Pastoral Education International (cpe-international.org)
History: Clinical Pastoral Education International (CPEI) was established in 2018 with three primary goals: To ensure that students of all faiths were welcome, To provide quality and life-transforming clinical pastoral education to students, and To create achievable educational programs.
World Spiritual Health Organization (WSHO) (Est. 2012)
History: From its inception in 2012 WSHO has been vetted, recognized and accepted as an affiliate member by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS); which is arguably the foremost accrediting body in North America. WSHO is a premier chaplain CPE training and certifying platform with members providing high-end chaplaincy throughout the world.
National Association of Orthodox Chaplains (Est. 1943)
Website: Boards, Offices, & Commissions - Office of Institutional Chaplaincies - Orthodox Church in America (oca.org)
History: The Office of Institutional Chaplaincies within the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) plays a significant role in endorsing and supporting institutional chaplains. These chaplains serve in diverse settings, including hospitals, hospices, long-term care facilities, prisons, fire departments, and police stations. The Orthodox US Armed Forces Chaplaincy was established during World War II to meet the spiritual needs of Orthodox personnel in the United States Armed Forces.
National Association of Certified Military Chaplains
Website: Certifications – The National Association of Certified Military Chaplains (nacmc.org)
History: The roots of spiritual direction trace back to ancient religious traditions, where spiritual guides offered mentorship and counsel to seekers navigating their faith journeys. Over centuries, the practice evolved within various religious contexts, encompassing traditions like Christian monasticism, Sufism, and Indigenous spiritual guidance. As the demand for spiritual companionship expands beyond traditional structures, the need for a more formalized approach has emerged.
Spiritual Care Association (SCA) (Est. 2016)
History: Founded in 2016 during the annual Caring for the Human Spirit Conference in San Diego, CA, the Spiritual Care Association (SCA) is the first multidisciplinary, international professional membership association for spiritual care providers that establishes evidence-based quality indicators, scope of practice, and a knowledge base for spiritual care. SCA is committed to serving its multidisciplinary membership and advancing the chaplaincy profession.
Requirements for First Time Applicants
Official documentation of completion Master’s degree of at least 30 credits from a CHEA accredited (or international equivalent) institution in a content area relevant to chaplaincy.
Within or beyond their Masters, one credit or the equivalent in at least three of the following areas: a) quality improvement; b) research; c) spiritual assessment, care planning, and documentation; d) cultural competency/inclusion; e) end of life; f) grief/bereavement; g) ethics; h) religious faith systems; i) communication; or j) basic pathophysiology.
At least 800 hours of clinical training in spiritual/pastoral care, such as CPE
Employer letter(s) verifying proof of working a minimum of 2,000 hours as a chaplain since completion of clinical training
Three (3) letters of recommendation from a) an administrator in the institution where the chaplain is currently employed or has been most recently employed b) BCC chaplain or director of spiritual care in the institution where the chaplain is currently employed or was most recently employed and c) a non-chaplain health care professional colleague such as a physician, nurse or social worker.
The SCA Code of Ethics requires that all members correctly represent their credentials. In the service of that requirement, if you claim ordination from a particular faith group, please include a letter from the faith group attesting to this ordination and that it is still valid.
Demonstration of competency through a standardized patient exam (simulated patient encounter) and a standardized online knowledge test.
Accountability for Ethical Conduct
As described above, equivalencies will be offered and are subject to review on an individual case-by-case basis.
All documentation that is required must be submitted in the candidate’s application package. All documents should be submitted as scans of originals or readable copies. Scans of photographs of documents are most often unreadable and will cause a delay in the approval of the application. Applications will not be reviewed until all required paperwork has been submitted.
SCA’s credentialing and certification process does not require faith group endorsement. This endorsement is not an evidence-based indicator of the person’s competency as a chaplain.
Rationale: Faith group endorsement is a relationship between a chaplain and his or her religious/spiritual/existential community. It is largely a Christian structure that is not practiced by most non-Christian groups. This reality has often meant that otherwise qualified and competent persons who are not from a tradition that endorses chaplains have either been denied the opportunity for certification or have had to compromise their own tradition in order to obtain an endorsement from another group in order to qualify. This is an exclusive practice that has failed to truly embrace diversity. While we do not require this endorsement, a chaplain may include such documentation for his or her file if desired.
Active SCA membership is required.
SCA membership is required. When you are a member, please log into your account to begin the application process.
Application Process
The length of time varies greatly from candidate to candidate, depending greatly on the candidate’s own timeline to take the Standardized Clinical Knowledge Test. The entire process could take as short as 4 months (for those candidates ready to take the Standardized Clinical Knowledge Test right away) to as long as 8 months for some.
There is no filing deadline. Applications are accepted throughout the year.
SCA cannot provide mentoring on preparing materials but will refer the candidate to sources on the website where the information can be found.
All applications are reviewed in the order they are received and deemed complete.
Candidates can expect email notification when an application has been received. Further, candidates will be notified of their application status as it moves through the process.
Candidates whose documentations are rejected will receive brief feedback on the areas found deficient. There will be an opportunity for the candidate to re-submit.
Once an application is complete and documentation accepted, the candidate will receive instructions on proceeding to the next phase. Next, the candidate must: a) successfully pass the Standardized Clinical Knowledge Test and b) successfully pass the Standardized Patient Exam through a Simulated Patient Encounter (in no particular order). Both the test and the exam must be successfully completed within 6 months from this point. Failure to complete both will end the certification process.
Regarding the exam: the candidate will be offered several dates to choose from to be scheduled for the exam. The candidate must select one of these dates. If the candidate does not pass the exam, he or she will be allowed to re-take the exam again but there will be a cost to re-take the exam.
Regarding the test: once the candidate receives the link to the test, the candidate will have six (6) months to take the test. If the candidate does not achieve a passing grade on the test, he or she will be allowed to re-take the test again at no additional cost. If the candidates still does not pass the test, he or she may retake the test again but there will be a fee for each re-take. All re-take attempts must occur within the 6-month time-frame. If the candidate does not successfully pass the test within this 6-month time-frame, the application process will end.
Appeals Process Rejection of application files is not appealable except on the grounds that the review did not take into account or misinterpreted significant facts in the application. The appeal should state clearly the facts that the candidate feels were not taken into account or misinterpreted. Standardized patient scores are not appealable.
Professionalism
We are committed to acting in a professional manner and treating each other and all those applying for certification with dignity and respect. We expect that applicants will treat all SCA staff with the same dignity and respect. We reserve the right to refund the application fees and withdraw the application of any candidate who does not abide by this standard.
Reciprocity
American Correctional Chaplains Association, Association of Certified Christian Chaplains (ACCC), Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), Canadian Association for Spiritual Care, Center for Spiritual Care & Pastoral Formation (CSCPF), College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP), Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association (HCMA), International Association of Christian Chaplains, National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), National Association of Veterans Affairs Chaplains, National Conference of Veterans Affairs Catholic Chaplains, Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC), National Institute of Business and Industrial Chaplains (NIBIC), Clinical Pastoral Education International (CPEI), World Spiritual Health Organization (WSHO), National Association of Orthodox Chaplains, National Association of Certified Military Chaplains
Applications and Forms
Good to know:
-ACCC, SCA, BCCI, NACC, NAVAC and NAJC follow the National Common Standards. Both organizations have been thoroughly vetted by VA officials to be compliant with their certification needs. ACCC also includes a standardized test in addition to the common standards
-Only six chaplain certifying bodies follow the National Common Standards: ACCC, SCA, BCCI, NACC, NAVAC and NAJC.
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